Page 267 of Back in the Saddle

“I don’t want him to feel hunted,” I said.

His curled a hand around the side of my neck. “We aren’t doing it that way.”

“I know. But he might feel it’s that way.” I leaned into him. “If he needs me, he knows where to find me.”

Eric gazed into my eyes a beat.

Then he nodded.

And when we were in bed, he tucked me close, and Henny tucked himself close to my back.

In the dark, I whispered, “I love my pendant.”

“I know,” Eric whispered back.

“But weirdly, Homer’s present was the best one I’ve ever got.”

Eric pulled me closer, and Henny adjusted so he didn’t lose contact.

“I know,” Eric said.

“Merry Christmas, baby.”

“Best one I’ve had for thirty years.”

Fuck!

Seriously!

Why was everyone making me cry?

“I take what I just said back,thatwas the best present I ever got,” I husked.

Eric pulled me even closer.

And Henny adjusted.

So neither of my boys lost contact.

TWENTY-EIGHT

CURVED COUCH

Three months later…

We were in Tweety,Raye’s bright yellow Juke, on our way to the storage units, and I was getting the third degree from Harlow.

“So, are you moving in with Eric?” she asked.

Move from the Oasis?

Not until there was a ring on my finger.

“No, we’re a dual household family,” I answered.

“You’re at his more than you’re at yours,” she accused.

I looked to her. “That isn’t true.” And it wasn’t.

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